1/4 mile times... question

What is the relationship between 1/4 time and trap speed? Like if you have a 1/4 mile time of 10.5 @ 120 is that possible? Can it be different? Can one be determined using the other? How does this work?
thanks
-Dan

Trap speed and quarter mile time can vary, even if one of the 2 numbers is the same between 2 cars. It's all about traction, launching, acceleration and what not. An example would be Car A does it in 12s @ 110MPH (I'm just making up numbers), Car B does 12s @ 120MPH. Both cars had the same time, but different trap speeds. Car A probably had good initial acceleration but didn't accel as quickly at higher speeds, like Car B.

I've been at the track on test and tune night and there would be some pro stock 1/8 mile guys out there costing the last 1/8 mile and running the 1/4 mile in the 10's @ 90 mph. :bloated:

what the %$#?

Trap speed and 1/4 mile time only have a little bit of a relationship to each other.

having a faster time doesn't mean you have a higher trap speed.

It can come down to boost (when your turbo spins up), traction (suspension set-up, tyres etc), gearbox (manual, auto, ratios) and driver ability.

If you get a bad launch , lack of traction you usally have a trap speed higher than pepole expect for some time... If you can run good times at low speeds that means you are a really good driver , launch perfectly , shift correctly and time everything nicely , or have a car set up good for drag racing (like having short ratio gearbox or so...)